Automatic control mechanism



P. E. GELDHoF E1' AL. 2,227,077 AAUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANSM .Decf 31, 1940.

7 sheets-sheet i Filed MarchrZG, 1957 4 ATT URHET Dec. 31, 1940. i P. E. GELDH'OF Erm. 2,227,077

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM,

Filed Marbh 26, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,e/ za /l D 0 O 0 (Dr O 9 0 INVEHT UR TTURHEY P. E.. GELDHoF Erm.v 2,227,077 AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM Dec, 31, i946.,v

'T Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 26, 1937 IHVENTUH Y ATT DHHEY- P. E. GELDHOF ETAL A 2,227,077

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM Dec'. 31, 1940.

Filed Marchs, 1937 7 sheets-sheet 4 u TTDRNEY Dec'. 31;` 1940. P. E. GELDHOF 27,227,077

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 26, 1957 7 Sheets-{Sheet 5 BY f7, JQW

De@ 31, 1940- P. E. GELDHOF Erm.l 2,227,077

' AUTOMATIC CQNTRQL MEGHAISM l Filed Mar`ch 26, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 was Imam Ranst I Z ,295 66 N 7@ bv v Z AT T URHEY De?- 31 1940-v P. E. GELDHOF T-AL 2,227,077

AUTOMATIC CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 26, 1937 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 TTURHET Patented Dee. 31, 1940 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC coN'rnoL Mnonmsiu application March 2c, 1937, sesame. 133,274

10 Claims.

Our invention relates to domestic laundering machines..

An object of our invention is to provide V'a machine which, when set into operation, wilLwithout further manual effort, operate to wash, rinse, blue and substantially dry the clothes and thereby condition them so that they may be then placed in the air for further drying or may, if desired, be immediately ironed while still in a damp condition.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic domestic laundering machine which, when the clothes have been placed in the washing tub or vat, may be set into operation, and without further manual eiort or further attention on the part of the operator, will expeditiously perform the operations of washing, rinsing, bluing and substantially drying the clothes.

.another object of our invention is to provide, in en automatic domestic laundering machine, mechanism for automatically draining dirty water, rinse water or bluing water, at the proper time during the cycle of operation, from the tub or vet in which the clothes are placed.

i further object of our invention is to provide, in a domestic laundering machine adapted to periorm automatically the operations of washing, rinsing, bluing and substantially drying the clothes, a novel mechanism for insuring the uniform distribution of bluing through the water owing into the tub or vat in which the clothes are located.

' Our invention further contemplates, in an automatic domestic laundering machine, the provision oi. a novel mechanism whereby, during the cycle ci operation in which the clothesA are brought from a dirty condition to s. condition such that they may, if desired, be ironed, the cycle of operation may be interrupted, when necessary, to insure that liquid, in the vat or tub in which the clothes are located.l will be Acompletely drained therefrom prior to the commencement of a iollowing operation requiring a change of liquid.

Our invention' also contemplates, in an automatic domestic laundering machine, the provision of a novel mechanism whereby, during the cycle of operation in which the clothes are brought from a. dirty condition to a condition such that they may, if desired, be ironed,the liquid, `entering the tub or vat in which the clothes are located, will always reach the desired level before the commencement oi the following operation.

Stillancther object oi our invention is to vide an automatic laundering machine wherein r the clothes, after being placed' in the tub or vat,

are, without further manual eiiort, washed, rinsed,

Vbloed and dried, and'the provision of means` prowhereby .the cycle of operation during the washing portion thereof may be interrupted to enable the repetition or partial repetition o the washing portion of the cycle. y

In addition, our invention contemplates the pro- 5 vision of an automatic domestic washing machine wherein the clothes, after being placed in the tub or vat, are, without further manual effort, through a novel timing mechanism and novel means set into operation by the timing mechanism, washed, i0 rinsed, blued and dried.

More specifically, our invention contemplates the provision of a domestic laundering-machine which, when the tub or vat has heen hlled with clothes and set into operation, will operate autoi5 matically thereafter to: wash the clothes for a' selected predetermined period of time; drain the tub of dirty water including the dirty water held by the clothes; admit clean water for rinsing purposes; rinse the' clothes; drain the tub of rinse 20 water including the water held by the clothes; admit clean water with bluinc uniformly distributed therethrough; blue the clothes; drain the tub of bluing water; and substantially dry the clothes so that they may he hung for additional 25 drying or, if desired, immediately ironed.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with'the accom.- panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing the general external appearance of our novel domestic automatic laundry machine.

Figure 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, in the direction indicated by the arrow, 35 showing the construction oi the interior of the laundering vat.

Figure 3 is a View taken on the line 3--3 of Figure l, in the direction indicated by the airOWf. showing a portion of the mechanism for oper-"i0 ating our novel laundering machine.

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, showing the washing element, the rotatable clothes drying basket and part of the mec anism for operating thesame.

Figure l5 is a. view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 6, in the direction indicated by the arrow. Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-8 of Figure 3, showing the timing control drum and l parts of the mechanism which are automatically 50 mechanism for driving the agitator and rotating `the dryer basket.

Figure 9 is a view taken on the line @-8 of Figure 6, in the direction indicated by the arrow, showing the dial and indicator for enabling the timing drum to, be set at the proper point.

Figure 10 is a view taken on the line i--it of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a. view taken on the line ii-ii of for retaining the strap on the eccentric.

Figure 14 is a view taken on the line ifi-iii of Figure 6, in the direction indicated by the arrow, showing a portion of the mechanism set into operation upon rotation of the timing drum.

Figure 15 is a view taken on the line iE-i of Figure 14, in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Figure 16 is a view taken on the line it-it of Figure 14, in the directionfindicatedby the arrow.

Figure 17 is a `view taken on the line il-i of Figure 3, showing the gear reduction for .the drum.

Figure 18 is'a view taken on the line it-it of Figure 17, in the direction indicated by the BI'IOW.

Figure -19 is a view showing a portion of Fig- ,ure 2 on an enlarged scale and indicating in dotted lines the water inlet and drain controls.

- Figure 20 is a view taken on the line'ZIl-Zt of Figure 3, showing parts of the agitator and basket drive.

Figure 21 is a view taken on the line 2I-2-i of Figure 3, showing the construction of the drain valve.

Figure 22 is a view taken on the lline 22-22 valve.

Figure 23 is a view taken on the line 23-23 of Figure 3, showing the construction of the mechanism for injecting bluing water into the washing vat.

Figure 24 is a view showing the drum unrolled and diagrammatically illustrating the operation of our novel machine.

Figure 25 is a view taken on the line 25-25 lof Figure 19, showing the floatcontrol for the water inlet valve. A

Figure 26 is a view taken on the line 26--26 of Figure 25, in the direction indicated by the aITOW.

Figure 2'1 is a view showing mechanism for interrupting the operation of the timing drum should the drain valve be open and the liquid not completely emptied from the washing tub.

Figure 28 is'a view showing the mechanism for interrupting the operation of the drum should the inlet valve be open and the float of Figure 25 not have reached the desired level.

Figure 29 is a view taken on the line 29-29 of Figure 19 showing a portion of the outlet valve control. v

Figure 30 is aview taken on the line 30-30 of Figure 19 showing another portion of the outlet valve control.

Figure 31 isa view taken lon the line 3I-A3i of Figure 19, showing still another portion of the outlet valve control.

Figure 32 is a view taken on the line 32-32 of Figure 5.

Figure 33 is a perspective view showing elements shown in Figure 32.

Figures 34 and 35 illustrate the mechanism by 5 which the motor is automatically stopped at the end of the laundering cycle.

The machine of our invention, as shown in Figure l, comprises, in general, a laundering vat i, a plurality of legs 2 for supporting the vat, a cover 3, a skirt t and panels t extending completely around the machine and enclosing the operating mechanism. The panels ii are removable to enable convenient inspectionor repair of parts of the operating mechanism. The machine is preferably, generally square in shape and is provided with casters l to enable it to be readily moved fromy place to place.

As shown more clearly in Figure 4, mounted internally of the laundry vat i, concentric therewith,'is a rotatable basket 8. The clothes are placed in the basket and are left therein through-- out the laundering cycle. The side walls 9 of the basket are perforated s`o that when the basket is rotated, at a comparatively highv speed, by mechanism to be described, uid from the clothes being dried is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force into the vat i. The upper edge of the side walls@ of the rotatable basket is turned inwardly, as indicated at il, and may be rolled slightly for stiiening purposes. The lower edges of the side walls 9 are secured in any suitable manner, as indicated at I2, to a. base member I3 which also may be perforated.- The central portion of the base I3 is turned upwardly, as indicatedl at it, and extends above the normal surface level in the vat. At its upper end, this portion ofthe basket has splines I6. The splines It are adapted to receive cooperating splines il formed near the upper end of a tubular drive shaft I3.

The washing element of our novel automatic laundering machine may comprise an agitator- I9 which may be of any suitable construction. In the drawings, we have shown an agitator similar to that shown in Geldhof application Serial No. 55,050, led December 18, 1935, although -it will be understood that any suitable` design of washing element may be used. Extending upward from the agitator i9 is a housing 2l which encloses the end of the hub I6 andthe tubular drive shaft I8 for the basket. The housing 2i, at its upper end, is formed into a hub v22,- the internal bore of which is splined to receive cooperating splines 23 formed on the end of an agitator shaft 24.

The agitator shaft 24 extends downward internally of and concentric with the tubular drive shaft I8, the two shafts extending through an opening in the bottom of the laundry vat l and into a gear case 26. For supporting the tubular "Eli `shaft i8, a supporting column 2l is provided which has a bearing 28 for the shaft at its upper end. At its lowerA end, the supporting column is provided with a flange 29 which engages the bottom of the vat, suitable packing being provided between the flange and the bottom of the vat for preventing leakage of fluid. The lower end of the supporting column 21 extends through thebottom of the vat and is threaded into a spider 3l. Between the spider 3l and the bottom of the vat, -a spacing plate 32 is provided so that when the supporting column is threaded into the spider 3|. the entire assembly is rigid.

The spider 3l extends1 across beiow the bottom of the vat I and is secured, as indicated at '83, to the legs 2 of the laundry machine. The

5 more clearly in Figure 3, is a metal supporting frame 34 which is tied to the legs 2 and serves to support a motor 36 and other parts of the mechanism to be described. 'I'he motor shaft 31 is provided at its outer end with a pulley 88, having a belt 39 which drives a pulley 4|, rigidly secured to the end of a main shaft 42. y

As shown more clearly in Figures 8 and 20, the main shaft 42 is provided with suitable b earings 43 in the gear case 26 and has a spiral gear 44 rigidly secured thereto which drives a gear 48 mounted on the tubular shaft I8.` The gear 48 is rigidly secured to one element 41 of a clutchl The gear and clutch element are secured against longitudinal movement along the tubular shaft but both are rotatable with respect to the shaft. Rigidly secured to, but slidable along the tubular shaft I8, is a second clutch element 48 having a clutch facing @59. A spring 5|, one end of which is held by a retaining member 52. normally presses the clutch element ltd into engagement with the clutch element 41.

A clutch shifter plate 53 is operatively connected to a shifter fork v5ft which is rigidly se-' cured to a rod 56. Movement of the rod carries the` plate into and out of engagement with the clutch facing t9. When the basket is to be stopped, the rod is moved upward carrying the plate into engagement with the clutch facing and separating the clutch elements against the action of spring 5i. The plate also serves as a brake when in its clutch disengaging position. The rod t has e. rack portion 5l which is engaged by a pinion 5E which has a crank 50 rigidly secured thereto. The crank til is rotated by mechanism i0 to he .later described. Engagement of the clutch elements provide: a friction drive for the rotatable basket through the tubular drive shaft it. The construction of this clutch mechanism may be generally similar to that shown in Geldhof Pat w ent No. 1,789,940, issued January 20, i931.

ilse drive for the agitator, as shown more clearly in Figures d and 10, comprises a worm 59 mounted on the main shaft d2 which drives a worm gear Si. The Worm gear 5| is mounted on a stub shaft @2 with respect to which the worm gear is rotatable. The worm gear is held in position by enlarging the end oi. the stub shaft 82, as indicated at 83, and is secured in a boss dfi in the casing 26 by a nut 56 threaded on the end im of the stub shaft. A pin t1 is driven into the Worm gear 6i eccentrically thereof and to the pin is rotatably secured a pitman 68. The opposite end of the pitman 6B is rotatably secured to a pin 59 driven into a segment 1l. The segment @0 has a. circular opening adapted to receive a Vcam o gear' 11, the normally rotating worm gear 6| through the pitman '88, drives the segment 1|, which in turn drives the gear 11 which, through the agitator shaft 24, oscillates the agitator.

As shown in Figure 4, the shaft 42 projects 75 through the casing 26 and into 4a casing 18 in which the shaft is suitably journaled. Mounted on or formed integral with the shaft 42 and within the casing 181s a worm 18.e The worm 18 is adapted to drive a worm gear 8| also mounted in the casing 18. The worm gear 8| is rigidly-,-j

secured to a shaft 82 journaled in the casing 18. One end of the shaft 82 projects through the casing and is operatively connected to a shaft 83 by means of a coupling 84, as shown in Figure 3. As shown more clearly in Figure 6, theshaft 83 extends through a supporting bracket 86 depending from the spider. The bracket 88 has a pair of long depending arms 81 and a plurality of short depending arms 88 in which the shaft is rotatably Journaled and which, in turn, sup ports mechanism to be later described. The other end of the shaft 83 projects into a casing 89 and, at the projecting end. a pinion 9| is formed which, as shown in Figure 17, meshes with a large gear 92. The gear 92 is rigidly secured to a shaft 93 journaled in the casing 88, and on the shaft '9`8 is rigidly mounted a pinion 94. The pinion 94 meshes with a large gear 08 loosely mounted on a shaft 91 journaled in the casing, as shown in Figure i8. Keyed to the shaft 91 is a pinion t@ which meshes with a ring gear 89. The shaft 9i is driven, through the gear 86, by a friction drive which comprises a spring e5 and a plate |00 pinned to the shaft. The ring gear 99 is secured to a rotatable timing element or drum lill. The

gear reduction, thus described, between the motor v and the drum is such as to cause the drum to 'rotate at .a speed of approximately two revolutions per hour.

The drum,as indicated in Figure 1l and as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 24', has tive rows of stops or cams m2 on its periphery which are adapted to engage, as the drum rotates, actuating elements i633. Each of the cams iti. has a cam surface ltd for a purpose to be described. Each of the actuating elements |03 is associated with mechanism for setting into operation one of the devices for performing an operation on the clothes in the vat. For convenience, in referring to the actuating elements m3 and their associated mechanisms, the mechanisms, dve in number, will be referred to by the letters A, B, C, D, and E. Mechanism A, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 24, is adapted to start and stop the per- `forated drier basket upon operation of the actuating element H3A. Mechanism B is adapted to startend stop the agitator when the actuating element adapted to set intovoperation the bluing mechanisms D and E are adapted to control the operation of the uid inlet and outlet valves respectively. Since each of the mechanisms A, B, C, D, and E is the same, a detailed description of one of them will. be sumcient.

The actuating element |03, as shown in Figure 15, is mounted on a shaft w8 which is .lournaled in cross members |01 and |08. The cross meme ber |01 lies across the top of the arms 81 and the cross member |08 extends across the arms 81 at the bottomthereof. The bottom cross member |08 may be formed in two parts bolted together for convenience in assembling.

Plnned to the shaft |08, near the lower end thereof, is a stop arm |09, and pinned to the upper end of the shaft |08 is a stop arm which is bent and rebent to form a hook-shaped end H2. The stop arms |08 and are offset from each other. A stop H0 limits the movement of the stop arms |08 and I I under the action of a spring H5. 0n the shaft 83 is rigidlymounted a star 75 WEB is operated. Mechanism C isl wheel ||3 which constitutes one element of a clutch. Adjacent the star wheel ||3 and loosely mounted on the shaftv 83 is a disk 4 which has pivotally secured thereto,at H6, a clutch element H1. "The clutch element ||1 is substantially a quarter circle and has a clutch tooth M8 adapted to engage the teeth i3 of the starwheel |||3. The end of the clutch. element ||1 is bent, as indicated at |2|, to form a stop portion |22 adapted to engage the stop arm |08 mounted on the shaft Mid. A spring |23, having one end secured to the-disk ||4 and the other end secured to the clutch element Hl, normally urges the clutch element so that the clutch tooth H3 engages in one of the teeth of the stary wheel M3. lWhen the stop arm |03 is in engagement with the end |22 of the clutch element it, the clutch tooth i i8 is retained out of engagement with the teeth oi thestar wheel ||3 against the action of the spring |23.

When the actuating element |63 is engaged by one of the cams |02 on the rotating drum, the actuating element |03 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in F'mn'e l1, carrying with it the shaft We and the stop arm it. Rotation oi the stop arm |09 carries it out of engagement with the end |22 of the clutch element |1 permitting the spring to pull the clutch tooth H8 into engagement with one of the teeth oi' the star wheel H3. This causes rotation ci the disk H63 together with the clutch element H1. Rotation of the shaft |08 against the action of the spring H5 carries the stop arm into a position such that-it will engageA the end of the clutch element when" it reaches the dotted line position shown at |251.v Actuation of the shaft |06 permits 180 rotation of the disk H4.' When, upon continued rotation ofthe drum the cam' |02 moves out of engagement with the actuating element |03, the shaft |06 is rotated, under the action of spring |5, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 11, until the stop arm strikes the stop ilo. This removes the stop arm from engagement with the end of the clutch element ||1 and restores the stop arm |08 to the position shown in 15. Under the action of spring |23, theclutch teeth ||8 and Ils again engage'and the disk |l4 rotates through 180 until the end of the clutch -v element ||1 engages the end of the stop arm |03.

As shown more clearly in Figuresf6 and 16, the disk ||4 has formed integral therewith a cam |21. The cam |21 has loosely mounted thereon an eccentric strap |23 which has formed integral therewith an arm |23. The'eccentric strap is held in position on the cam |21 by a plate |3| which has cut out and bent portions constituting springs |32. yWhen the plate |3| is screwed into position,

as shown in Figure 6, it locks in position due to the spring elements and tends to prevent rotation of the cam element |21, with respect to the eccentric strap, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 16. 'I'hls tendency for the cam |21 to 'rotate in a counterclockwise direction is caused by the spring |23 which. when the end of the clutch Arod,the rods |33, |34, |35, |36 and |31. For the purpose of supporting the rods |33 to |31, inclusive, and their associated arms |23, a plurality of links |38 are mounted on a cross rod |39. The cross rod |38 is mounted in the depending arms |31 and serves not only as a support for the links |38 but also serves as a pivot point and support for the' drum |0|. Collars |4| are placed along the shaft |39 to space theflinks |38 from each other. l Rotation of the clutch elements ||1 from the position shown in Figure to thatindicated in dotted lines in that gure moves the rods |33 to ist, inclusive,to the right as viewed in Figure 14, and rotation of the clutch elements |1 from the dotted line position, indicated in Figure 15, to the solid line -position of that gure moves the rods |33 to |3'l to the left; The support for the drum is more clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7. in addition tothe cross rod t3@ which extends through the depending arms di?, is a shaft |62 having cams |453 rigidly secured thereto. The shaft |62 is journaled in the depending arms 81 and the cams |63 are rotatable in depending supporting brackets Ml. The end of the shaft it@ is square, as indicated at M6, and is adapted to receive a hand operating element |61, the end of which may be inserted through an openinginthe skirt 8.'

l Journaled in the lower end of the supporting brackets idd is a shaft |58 upon which the rotatable drum |0| is supported. The drum is keyed to the shaft, as indicated at |69. When the hand control element M1 is turned through 180as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7, the drum lol is lowered by swinging Ythe supporting brackets |48 about their pivoting cross rod |39. Movement of the supporting brackets |461 lowers the drum, as indicated in dotted lines ln Figure 7, which carries the ring gear 39 out of engagement with its' driving pinion. Lowering of the drum also carries the stops |02 out of engagement with the actuati'ng elements |03, thereby permitting any of the clutch elements ||1 which may be in the dotted line position, shown inFigure 15, through the continued rotation of the motor to be returned to the solid line position.

On the end of the shaft |48 is secured a pointer 5| which is adapted to indicate the position ofthe drum on a disk |52. The disk |52 may be suitably divided into minutes or in any other way calibrated to show the position of the drum.' The disk |52, which lies on the outside of the machine `so as to be visible to the operator, has a sleeve |53 formed integral with the disk, and the sleeve is secured, in any suitable manner, to the outer supporting bracket |44, as indicated at |54. A slot |56, shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, is cut in the outer` panel of the machine so that when the drum is lowered by rotating the hand control element |41, the I shaft |48, together with the sleeve |53 carrying the disk |5|, will move in the slot so that lowering of the drum does not disturb the relative position'of the pointer |5| with respect to-the disk |52. A

Water is brought to the washing vat through a pipe |51, shown in Figures 4 and 22, which is connected to the water main. Water enters from the' pipe |51 into a valve or mixing chamber |58, which has an opening to enable convenient cleaning of the valve. 'Ihe opening is covered byl a cap |59. A suitable water valve |8| is secured on the end ofthe rod |36 and is adapted to close the inlet passage when on its valve seat |62. Packing and a packing nut surround the rod |36 and close the opening through which the rod |36 passes into the valve chamber and prevent leakage of water from the chamber. The inlet pipe |51 extends upward from the valve chamber '|88 and extends through an opening in the bottom of the vat. It will be understood that actuation of the rod |36 opens and closes the valve |6| to admit and cut oi the ow of water to the' vat.

Fluid is emptied from the washing vat through a pipe |64, shown in Figure 3, which is connected to the suction side of a pump |66. The pump is driven byl a pulley |61 driven from the belt 39.

The discharge of the pump passes vthrough a pipe |68 to a discharge valve, generally indicated by the'numeral |89shown in FlgureZl. The pipe |68 ls bent to form a seat |1| for a valve |12. The valve is suitably secured to rod |31 which is bent upon itself, as shown in Figure 21. An opening is provided in the valve |69 which isv closed by a suitable cap |14, andthe rod |31 Vextends through the cap. Suitable packing, providedv around the` rod |31, is held in position by a packing nut |16. It will be understood that actuation of the rod |31 opens and closes the drain valve and enables the iluid to pass out of a pipe |18 to waste.

In order to control the valves |6| and` |69 so that they will close at the proper time, iloats are provided which are controlled by the liquid level in the washing'vat. In one corner of the vat, as shown in Figure 19, is a dividing wall |80. The dividing wall extends from well above the normal surface level of liquid in the vat to a point shown at |82 in Figure 29 near the bottom of the vat.

The dividing wall |80 forms la compartment '|8| to which the water in the vat has access.

, movement of the arm |86. An arm |92 is rigidly secured to the pivot rod |88 and has secured to the end thereof a rod |93 which extends downvat'and the end thereof is pivotally secured to' one arm of a bell crank |98. The bell crank |98 is pivoted, at |96, to a bracket |91 depending from the spider 3|. To the other arm of the bell crank, a rod |98 is pivotally secured which is pivoted at |99.to a leverA 20|. The lever 20| is pivoted at.202 to a bracket 203 suitably supported from the frame. Tothe end of the lever 20| is secured an end piece 20B. The end piece 206 has an angular extending portion 201 which engages the side edges of the lever 20|. An ear 208, extending from the end piece, has one end of a spring 209 secured thereto. The other end of the spring is secured to an ear 2| formed integral with the lever 20|. y

On the side wall of the drum, as shown in Figure 4, are formed a plurality of stops 2|2 which are spaced inaccordance with the desired opera.- tion. When the inlet water valve' |6| is opened, the water level rises in the vat. To prevent the valve from ybeingclosed by operation of mechanism D prior to the water reaching the proper level,

the stop 2|2 on the drum engages the end piece 206 and the drum is prevented from rotating, the friction drive provided by the spring 95 and the. plate enabling slippage. When the water Y in the vat reaches the desired level. the oat rises and moves the rod |93 downward which causes movement of the bell crank |94 in a counterclockwise direction, which pushes on theI rod |98 upward as viewed in Figure 28. Upward movement of the rod |98 pivots the lever 20| about the pivot 202, breaking the toggle `formed by the lever 20| and the end piece 206 against the action of spring 209. Continued upward movement of the rod |98 carries the end piece 206 out of engagement with the stop 2| 2, permitting the drum to continue its normal rotation. If, however, the washing vat has lled with liquid during the normal space of time allotted for such filling by the length of inlet valve cam |02, the float, upon reaching its upper position, will cause upward movement of the rod |98. Under these conditions, the end piece 206 will have been carried out of position to be engagedr by the stop 2|2, Aprior to the time the stop reaches the position shown in Figure 28.

The outlet valve oat 2|6 is mounted near the bottom of the vat below the rotatable basket 8. The float 2 I6 lies in a depressed portion or channel formed in the vat, indicated at 2|1, so that the liquid will iiow into the channel as the vat is emptied. The outlet pipe |64 has an enlarged y end 2|8, welded or otherwise secured to the bottom of the vat, for the reception of the iloat. A. projection 2|9, extending inwardly from the pipe |64, prevents the float from seating so as to close the outlet opening. A lever 22|, secured to the oat, extends along the bottom of the channel 2 1 and through the opening in the bottom of the compartment |8| toward the side of the vat where it is pivoted, as indicated at 222, to a bracket 223.

Arod 224, secured to the lever 22| at 226, extends upward through the compartment |8| above the normal liquid level in the vat and has its upper end secured to an arm 221. The arm 221 is rigidly secured t'o a pivot pin 228 which extends through two walls of a water-tight compartment 229 formed of sheet metal 23| welded to the side walls of the vat. Rigidly secured to the pivot pin 228 is an arm 232 to the end of which is secured a rod 233. The rod 233 extends downward through the water-tight compartment 229 and through an opening in the bottom of the vat. The projecting end of the rod is pivoted to one arm of a v bell crank 234. The bell crank 23| is pivoted, at

236, to a bracket 231 secured to the frame of the machine. To the other arm of the bell crank is secured a rod 238, the upper end of which is shown in Figure 2 7. The upper end of the rod 238 extends through apertures formed in a lever 239 and an end piece 24| The lever 239 is pivoted' at 242 to a bracket 243 suitably supported from the frame of the machine. Theend piece 24| has an angular extending portion 288 adapted normally to engage the side edge of the lever 239. An ear 246, formed on the end piece 28|, has one end of a spring 241 securedthereto. The'other end oi the spring is secured to an ear 280 on the lever 239. i

The end piece 28| isengageable by any one ofa series of stops 240 on the side of the drum (see Fig. 4) should the vat not have completely drained during the normal time allowed in the cycle for such drainage to occur. If the vat has not drained after the drain valve I 89 has been opened by mechanism E, the parts will be in the position shown' in Figure 27 with the stop 249 in engagement with the end piece 24|. This engagement will stop the rotation of the drum through the friction clutch 95|0`0 and retain the outlet valve open. As soon as the vat has drained, the

oat 2|8 will reach the position shown in Figure piece 24| and carry the end piece 24| out of engagement with the stop 2d9, permitting the drum to continue itsrotation. Should the vat have completelyndrained prior to the stop 249 reaching the end piece 24|, the rod 238 will have moved the end piece out of the way prior to the stop 259 reaching the end piece and the rotation of the drum will not be interrupted.

Mechanism is provided for automatically injecting bluing into the vat with the inlet water for the purpose of bluing the clothes during the laundering cycle. This mechanism is shown in Figure 23 and comprises a pump and bluing feed supply mounted on the supporting frame 36. A bluing container 255 is screwed into a threaded opening in a supply chamber 251 with the opening in the container extending downward. Bluing fduidl runs out of the container and into a horizontal passage 255i, past a check valve 259 and into'the pump cylinder 26|. 'A vent'262 is provided to supply air to the container 256 to replace the bluing flowing into the supply chamber 25? and the pump cylinder 25| from the container. As soon as the pump cylinder 28| and the supply chamber' have nlled with -bluing, the

container seals itself at the level shown in Figure 23.

The pump cylinder 26| has reciprocable therein a plunger Eet which has a hollow bore, a portion of which is threaded to receive a threaded member 254i. The threaded member has extending vthrough. the center thereof a pump rod 266, `the lower end of which is enlarged, as indicated at Ei, and the upper end of which is pivotally se-4 at 213 to rod 35 which is operated by mechanism C. A pin 2id entends through the pump'rod and has a collar 2id lying below it which serves as a stop for a spring 2li. The other end of the spring engages the top of the threaded member ttt. Packing 2id extends around the plunger Eet and is heid in place by a packing nut 219. Adjustment ci the threaded member 26@ with respect to the plunger gt3 will regulate the amount of bluing drawn into the pump cylinder 26| and thereby regulate the amount of bluing injected into the vat. i l p A passage 23 leads from the lower nd of the pump cylinder 265i The passage 28| takes a right angle turn and, at 282, is enlarged to provide a seat for a ball 283 which serves as a check valve to prevent return of bluing to the pump cylinder. A fitting 28d, having a small aperture 285 therein constituting a resistance unit, is threaded into the opening in the valve chamber and a pipe 286 is secured in the htting. The other end of the pipe has entrance to the inlet valve chamber or mixing chamber 55, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Assuming the level of the bluing in the pump cylinder 261| is as shown in Figure 23, when mechanism C is actuated, rod |35 is pushed to the right, as viewed in Figure 23, which causes `a downward movement on the pump rod 266. Downward movement of the pump rod compresses lthe spring 211 fagainst the resistance offered to downward movement of the plunger 263 by the as it ows through the mixing chamber |58. 1

After the pump rod has moved to its extreme downward position, e on, of the spring 221 will continue to supply bluing'slqwly "through the small aperture 285 in the tting 284 into the pipe 286 and thence into the, mixing chamber |54. 15

.'Bluing is thus gradually supplied to the mixing chamber which enables uniform distribution of the bluing throughout the water entering the vat. thereby eliminating the possibility of blulng the clothes uneveniy or causing blue splotches 4in the clothes. As soon as the bluing operation is completed, the rod 935 is drawn to the left drawing the pump rod 2te upward. The plunger 263 then moves on a suction stroke and bluing is drawn from the container 255 into the pump cylinder 28 l The device is then, when required, ready i'or another bluing operation.

As shown in Figures 3d and 35, means are provided for automatically stopping rotation of the drum at the end o' the cycle oi' operation. A switch element, generally indicated by the numeral 29|, comprises a pair or contacts 292 mounted in a switch box carried by supporting bracket |44.

A contact element 293 is rigidly secured to a pivot 35 rod extending outside the box. The pivot rod is rigidly secured to a bell crank 254. The contact element 2% is normally adapted to bridgeA the contacts and maintain the motor in operation. A switch cam 295, carried by the drum, engages one arm ci the bell crank, at the end of the cycle of operation, and removes contact element 293 from its bridging position, against the action of `a spring ist. One end of the spring is secured to the other arm of the bell crank and the other end of the spring is secured to an arm carried by the switch box. The switch including the motor circuit is shown atically in Figure 35. if desired, e. second switch 291 may be placed in the motor4 circuit, whichmay be opened when the drum is set to start a new cycle, @o

to prevent the motor from operating before the water and clothes have been in the tub and the drum is properly set to initiate the laundering cycle.

As described above, means are provided for enabling the drum to be lowered to disengage the pinion s1 from the ring gear 99. This is to enable the rotation of the drum i ard, upon rotation of the pointer thi, to permit a repetition/Q69 of the whole or any part or th washing period in the event that the operator is of the opinion that the clothes have not been washed sufciently. In i the event that the operator should drop the drum during any portion oi the laundering cycle other than the washing portion thereof, means are pro- -vicled for preventing restoration ot the drum to operating position unless the operator rotates the drum back to the washing portion of the cycle. the drum which has a cut out portion 299 of a length equal to the amount oi 'rotation of the drum during the washing period: If desired, as indicated in Figure 32, the ange 29| and the gear 99 may be .Such means comprise a ange 29B on 70 formed. integr A plate lll, 1o

l carried by the cross member |03, extends downward and has a projecting ear 302. 'I'he ear 302 lies in a recess 303 formed in a plate 304 which faces against the plate 30|. A headed bolt 306 extends through both plates and the projecting end is encircled by a spring 301. A stop 303 is rigidly secured to the bolt backs of the spring vso that the spring presses the two plates together.

with the cut out portion 299 of the ange 298, the

end 309 offers no interference to the movements ofthe drum. I1', however, the operator lowers the drum during any other portion of the cycle, the

p ange 238 cams aside the end 309 o! the plate 300 against the action of spring 301. When the drum reaches its lowered position, the end 309, due to theactionof the spring, lies above the ilange andvprevents the drum from being restored to its normal position. This construction prevents the possibility of the operator, for example, lowering the drum when the vat is illled with water, turning the drum and raising it into such Aposition that the inlet actuating element |03D is operated with the consequent possibility of flooding the tub. At the same time, this construction permits the, operator should she, for example, note at the end of the rinsing period that the clothes still appear dirty, to lower the drum, rotate it to the portion of the drum representing the washing period, and then raise the drum to operative position. Upon filling the tub with-Washing uid, she 'may then repeat the whole or any portion of the washing period.

The operation ofvour novel automatic washing machine may, perhaps, be made more clear by referring to Figure 2d. In Figure 24, the spaces between vertical lines on the diagrammatically illustrated cams |02 represent minutes. The vat I is rst lled with hot water by means of a hose attached tc the water faucet (not shown), soap added, and then the clothes to be washed are immersed in the perforated basket. The operator then observes the position oi the pointer il with respect to the diai |52 and, if not in the proper position, she may set the machine by dropping the drum, rotating the pointer and thereby the drum to the desired position and then restoring the drum to its normal position. We have shown in Figure the dial graduated for a ten-minute normal washing period, although this may be varied if desired. 1f the operator wishes to wash the clothes only eight minutes, she rotates the pointer and thereby the drum untill the pointer registers with the gure 2 on the dial. After the machine hasbeen set for the desired washing period, switch 29TH may be closed and the motor starts to rotate. Upon rotation oii'the drum, the agitator cam irotates the agitator actuating ,element |03 which sets into operation mechanism B upon operation oi' the motor. actuation or mechanism B moves the rod i3d to the right, as

viewed in Figure 14. Movement oi the rod i3d to the right, rotates the cam 12 and brings the rack teeth i6 into engagement with the pinion.

lli', which starts the agitator oscillating with the perforated basket in a stationary condition. The agitator oscillates for the period for which it has beenset, for example, eight minutes.

Prior to the completionof the washing period, foxexample as indicated in Figure 24, one minute prior to the completion o the washing period.

outlet valve cam |02 engages outlet valve actuating element |03 setting mechanism E into operation, thereby moving rod |31 to the right, as viewed in Figure 14, and opening drain valve |69. The drain valve, as indicated in Figure 24, remains open at least four minutes. At the end of the washing period, the agitator `cani |02 has moved out of engagement with the agitator actuating element |03, and. mechanism B is operated to move rod |34 to the left, as viewed in Figure 14, which automatically stops the agitator. At Asubstantially the same time, as indicated in Figure 24, basket cam |02 engages basket actuat- 1 ing element |03, setting into operation mechanism A which moves rod |33 to the right, as viewed in Figure 14.- Movement of the rod |33 to the right rotates pinion 53, moving rod S downward and enabling engagement of clutch elements 415-48 which starts rotation of the basket. Thus, while the drain valve is open, the

A basket is being rotated, throwing the dirty washing uid oil the clothes by centrifugal force and permitting it to flow out of the drain valve |59 to waste. Pump |66, which is operating at all times, during the operation of the motor, aids in emptying the vat. At the end of four minutes, 1

the drain valve is closed through the actuation of mechanism A and the basket is stopped through the actuation oi mechanism E.

Under certain conditions, the washing fluid may not have completely drained from the vat during the allotted time. Prior to permitting rinse water to dow into the vat it is desirable that the vat he completely drained of washing duid. This is accomplished through the drain valve oa't 2 6 which, as described above, through the mechanism shown in Figure 27, stops rotation of the drumv until the float 2id has reached the position shown in Figure 29. Stopping rotation of the drum retains the drain valve open and the basket rotating with the wash water has *completely drained. After the washing fluid has completely drained from the washing vat, as indicated in Figure 24, mechanisms A and E are` actuated to stop rotation of the basket and close the drain valve. Substantially simultaneously inlet valve cam. |02 engages inlet valve actuating element |03 which sets into operation mechanism D, thereby opening the inlet valve Ii permitting the entrance of clean water into the vat for rinsing the clothes. Normally, theinlet valve is .retained open for one minute, during which time,

piece is then carried out of engagement with the stop 2&2 permitting the drum to continue its rotation and mechanism D is then actuated to close the iniet valve.

As indicated in Figure 24, as soon as the vat is lled to the proper level with rinse water, agitator cam |02 engages agitator actuating element |03 which sets into operation mechanism B and thereby starts the agitator oscillating. v Operation of the agitator with rinse water in the vat thor-- oughly agitates the rinse water and clothes and insures that all the soapy washing duid willbe removed from the clothes. The agitator is operated for three minutes during the rinsing period tioned means whereby the cycle of operationsV goverend by said camming means is interrupted when the level of liquid in said vat is below normal during a period of said cycle4 of operation when a normal liquid level is required, and the cycle of operations is also interrupted when said liquid remains in said vat when theperiod of the cycle of operations .requires said vat to be emptied.

5. In a mechanism as described in claim 4, the

combination in which'said means for arresting the rotation, of said rotatable element comprises a set of stops mounted on said rotatable element in predetermined relation to said camming means, and a plurality of movable catch pieces so constructed and arrangedas to engage and release said stops.

6. In a control mechanism for governing a cycle of operations in an automatic washing machine or the like, wherein such machine has a vat for containing liquid and an inlet for lling said vat, said control mechanism including a rotatable element on which is mounted a plurality of camming means, a plurality of trip means adapted to be operated by said camming means, power means for rotating said rotatable element, and a clutch interposed between said power means and said rotatable element, the combination of a plurality of power clutches for operating individual controls, s aid clutches being adapted for selective operation by said trip means when said rotatable element is rotated,

a set of stops mounted on said rotatable element in predetermined relation to the aforementioned camming means, a movable catch piece so con-` structed and arranged as to engage and release said stops, a float mounted in said vat and linkage mechanism for transmitting motion from said l `float to said movable catch piece, whereby rotation of said rotatable element is arrested when said float is in a position below that -corresponding to anormal lling of said vat with liquid, and operation of said power clutches is thereby prevented while such condition exists.

7. In a control mechanism for governing a cycle of operations in an automatic washing machine or the like, wherein such machine ,has a vat for containing liquid and an outlet for draining said vat, and wherein said control mechanism includes a rotatable element on which is mountedv a plurality of camming means, a plurality of trip means adapted to be operated by said camming means, and power means for rotating said rotatable element, the combination oi a plurality of power clutches adapted to be selectively operated by said trip meanswhen said rotatable element is rotated, said power clutches being constructed and arranged to transmit power -foroperating individual controls, .a set of stops mounted on said rotatable element in predetermined relation to said camming means, a movable catch piece 9 so constructed and arranged as to engage and release said stops, a submerged iioat and linkage mechanism for transmitting motion from said iloat to said catchpiece so constructed and arranged as to move said catch piece into and out of` 5 engagement with said stops, whereby rotation of said rotatable element is arrested when said llloat is raised by liquid in said vat and the opera'- ton of said power clutches is thereby prevented while such condition exists and until said vat is l0 emptied of liquid. 8. In a control mechanism for governing a cycle of operations in an automatic washing machine or the like, wherein said control mechanism includes a rotatable element having means 15 mounted thereon for controlling portions of said cycle and power means for rotating said element, incombination, means so constructed and arranged that said rotatable element may be disconnected from said power means, and means 20 comprising a handle afllxed to'said rotatable element whereby said rotatable element may be manually rotated backward to repeat a portion of said cycle of operations at the will of the operator.

9. In a control mechanism for governing a cycle of operations in an automatic washing machine or the like, wherein said control mechanism includes a rotatable element, a plurality ol camming means mounted on' said element, a

plurality of means so constructed and arranged as to cooperate with said camming means for controlling operations within said cycle, and pow- Aer means for rotating said rotatable element, the

combination of driving means comprising at least one driving member and one driven member normally held in cooperative relation to each other for transmitting motion from said power means to said rotatable element, supporting means for said rotatable element sol constructed and arranged that said rotatable element may be moved out o! and into cooperation with said means foncontrolling operations within the cycle, while at the same time moving said driving member out lof and into cooperation with said driven member o! said driving means, and manually operated means for rotating said rotatable element either backward or forward when said rotatable element is moved out of cooperative relation with said means for controlling operations within said cycle, whereby any portion of a cycle of operationsamay be repeated atthe will of the operator.

l0. In a control mechanism for governing a cycle of operations in an automatic washing machine or the like,l wherein said control mechanism includes a rotatable element, camming means mountedpn said element, and means automatically 'set into operation by said camming means as said element rotates for controlling portions of said cycle, in combination, means fo moving said element to a position such that said e0 camming means are out of operative position relative to said means for controlling portions of said cycle to enable the element to be rotated back to ay previous position and then restored to a position such that the camming means are ain g5 in an operative position.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF.' LUTHER RINGER. 

